Research METHODS: Section 2 Flashcards
operationalise
defining variables in a form that can be easily tested
non-directional hypothesis (two-tailed)
doesn’t predict the expected direction of outcome
Standardised procedures
A set of procedures that are the same for all participants in order to be able to repeat the study
social desirability bias
A tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself.
time sampling
observational technique where the observer records behaviour in a given time frame
intervening variable
within a correlation, this variable comes between two others & used to explain their association
extraneous variable
In an experiment, a variable other than the IV that might cause unwanted changes in the DV.
confounding variable
a factor other than the IV that has affected the DV
hypothesis
testable statement
AIM
the intended purpose of an investigation
alternative hypothesis (experimental hypothesis)
states something other than chance alone has played a part in producing the results obtained
directional hypothesis (one-tailed)
predicts the direction in which results expected to occur
null hypothesis
states the findings of a study are due to chance & no difference will be found in the results from different conditions
independent variable
variable manipulated by researcher
dependent vaiable
variable that’s being measured
three experimental designs
1) independent groups (diff participants used in each condition)
2) repeated measures (same participants used in each condition)
3) matched participants (participants matched in each condition on variables relevant to the experiment)
advantage/disadvantage of independent group design
a: no problem with order effects, which occur when participants performance is positively/negatively affected by their taking part in two/more experimental conditions
d: potential for error resulting from individual differences
advantage/disadvantage of repeated measures design
a: individual differences between participants removed as a confounding variable
d: range of potential uses is smaller than for independent group design
pilot study
A small scale trial carried out at the start of an experiment to check design functionality, saves time & money
